Liverpool had a successful summer transfer window.
I don't think many fans would dispute that with the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endō. It's been a clear and decisive method of undertaking the midfield rebuild Liverpool were forced to complete this summer due to the mass departures from Liverpool's engine room.
The surprise sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia certainly made potential arrivals more pressing for Liverpool's transfer committee but most fans would agree that the departure of the Brazilian midfielder still has not been properly filled.
While the club did sign a defensive midfield specialist in Endō from Stuttgart, he is not of the quality of Fabinho which leaves fans to ask - did Jürgen Klopp make a mistake by not adequately replacing ‘El Flaco'?
Liverpool Still Need A Number Six
Fabinho was the unsung hero of the Liverpool team that won the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
The work he did in the middle of the park allowed the players ahead of him to play freely and that they did. While he did struggle in what turned out to be his final season with the club in the 2022/23 campaign, he ended the season on a good note that had fans suggesting it was the lack of help around him that led to his poor form.
Most fans weren't expecting Fabinho to be sold especially with Naby Keíta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner confirmed to be leaving on a free transfer so when he did, fans were left asking who his replacement was going to be.
While Endō is a natural six, at 30 years old he is not the future and is certainly not good enough to start week in, week out for Liverpool which leaves a gaping hole in that position that could bite the club later on in the season.
Stefan Bajčetić Is The Future In Midfield
We didn't sign a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho because Klopp does not want to block the pathway for Stefan Bajčetić.
The Spaniard had a breakout season last year and became one of the best players in the team before suffering a season-ending injury in February. The 19-year-old recently returned in Liverpool's 3-1 win over LASK in the Europa League and I believe Klopp sees him as the future of the number six position which would make sense considering his transfer business.
It's a lot of pressure to put on the teenager's shoulders but he is massively talented and his progress this season will go a long way to show whether Klopp's decision was correct or if the club need to enter the January transfer window to sign a defensive midfielder.